Definition

The act of not paying attention to something or not following a rule or custom.

Example

His inobservance of the safety regulations led to an accident at work.

Conversation

Did you notice the inobservance of the rules at the game last night?

Yeah, it was pretty obvious that some players were ignoring them.

I wonder if it affects the outcome when there's so much inobservance.

Definitely! It can change the whole dynamic of the match.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Inobservance → It is formed from "in-" (meaning not) and "observance" (from Latin "observantia", meaning the act of observing or following). The word refers to the state of not observing or failing to follow rules or customs.

Memory Tip

Think of 'not' ('in-') following or 'observing' something — that's why inobservance means failing to observe rules or customs.

Visually Confused Words